This series, produced with The Edtech Podcast, explores the implications of and questions around future tech for education. Listen for insights from experts — including contrarians — from across industry, research, and academia. Get caught up here with episode 1, episode 2,episode 3, and episode 4.

In the latest episode of our Future Tech in Education podcast series, we dip into the world of VR and mixed reality to uncover what high-cost, high-risk learning opportunities are being made more accessible to all by this technology.

Plus, we wrap our co-curated mini series with practical suggestions for educators: be mindfully skeptical, resist fear, understand that you can start small and grow, and avoid technology for technology’s sake. This last one is harder than it sounds. Many new technologies wow us but do not have useful application to education. Learn how to make the most of technology.

About the Author

Denis Hurley

Denis Hurley leads the global Future Technologies program within the Advanced Computing and Data Science Lab (“The Lab”). The Lab applies advanced computing and data science to create innovative software capabilities, processes, and frameworks that improve our digital products, advance our digital ways of working, and change how we approach digital education. The Future Technologies program is a pan-Pearson, cross-disciplinary, collaborative community of hundreds of colleagues, that has completed over 40 prototypes and roundtable discussions. Our work has impacted early development of many products and services, such as explorations into mobile-first strategies, immersive learning, and adaptive algorithms.

Denis studies emerging technologies and trends; promotes Pearson’s cutting edge products and strategies; and catalyzes teams, encouraging the exploration of innovative solutions and new opportunities. Denis is a frequent speaker at national and international events and workshops for educators and technologists.